268 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 



Sharp-shinned Hawk : Accipiter velox. 



(Plate XV.) 



Geographic Distribution. — North America ; breeds through- 

 out the United States, and winters from Massachusetts to 

 Central America. 



Unlike the Goshawk, the Sliarp-shinned is one 

 of our commonest birds of prey. Fortunately it 

 is so small that it does little harm in the poultry- 

 yard except in carrying off very small chickens. 

 Doctor Fisher says that its food is made up 

 almost entirely of wild birds and young poultry ; 

 96 per cent, of the contents of the stomachs ex- 

 amined consisted alone of birds. However, as the 

 doctor says, when a pair of the Hawks find a 

 farm where young chickens are easily obtained, 

 they devote themselves to the family until there 

 is no family left, or they themselves meet with a 

 tragic death. 



The one redeeming quality of the Sharp- 

 shinned is its fondness for House Sj^arrows. 

 Doctor Fisher tells us that in winter it even visits 

 towns and cities for them, being not uncommon 

 in Central Park and the larger parks of Wash- 

 ington. 



Doctor Ralph finds that its numbers are not 

 decreasing as rapidly as those of other Hawks, 

 and attributes it to the retiring habits of the 

 Sharp-shinned, as well as their quick movements, 

 which make it difficult to shoot them. They do 



